The extent of the country and portion of each to be known

Chapter 12 is only a summary of their conquests. The Holy Ghost not
only gives us the victory over our enemies, but makes us understand
and know the whole extent of the country, and defines the particular
portion of each; giving us details of everything it contains; of God's
perfect arrangements for the appropriation of the whole, and the
distribution of each part of His people, so as to produce a
well-ordered whole, and perfect in all its parts, according to the
wisdom of God. But here we have to realise the distinction maintained
in the New Testament between the gifts of God, and the enjoyment of
the gifts given. "Ye have an unction from the Holy One, and ye
know all things." "He hath made us sit together in heavenly
places by the same power which placed Christ there, when He raised Him
from the dead and set Him above every name that is named. Alas! how
many earthly things still remain unsubdued among Christians. But the
Holy Ghost takes cognizance of this condition, in view of, and in
connection with, that which rightfully belongs to them: it is this
which enables us to understand the second division of this book.

The whole land parcelled out and given by Jehovah Himself

Although there was still a considerable part of the land to be
possessed, Joshua parcels out the whole amongst the tribes of Israel,
according to the command of Jehovah, who declares that He will Himself
drive out its inhabitants before them. But the people poorly responded
to this promise. The cities of the Philistines were indeed taken, but
their inhabitants were not exterminated; they were spared, and soon
regained power. Here we may remark that, wherever there is
faithfulness, there is rest. The effect of Joshua's work was, that
"the land had rest from war"; so also with that of Caleb
(chap. 14: 15). When the cities of the Levites were allotted them, we
find the same thing again (chap. 21: 43, 44). It is not so in
detail. The whole extent of country is given to Israel, and each tribe
has his share; the portion, therefore, which fell to each tribe was
given them in full right by Jehovah Himself. Their borders were marked
out; for the Spirit of God takes notice of everything in distributing
the spiritual inheritance, and gives to each according to the mind of
God. There is nothing uncertain in God's arrangements. But we find
that not one tribe drove out all the enemies of God from His
inheritance, not one realised the possession of all that God had given
him.

Judah and Joseph take possession of their lots

Judah and Joseph take possession of their lots. We know that they
always remained chief amongst Israel, fulfilling thus the counsels of
God as to royalty for Judah, and the birthright which fell by grace to
Joseph (chaps. 15-17; see 1 Chron. 5: 2). The tabernacle of God was
also set up in peace (chap. 18); but, once at rest, the tribes are
very slow in taking possession of their portion -- too frequently the
history of God's people. Having found peace, they neglect His
promises. Nevertheless, as we have seen, the Spirit of God did not
fail to point out to the people in detail all that belonged to them.

The cities of refuge the provision for restoration of the
enjoyment of the inheritance

The cities of refuge are appointed (chap. 20); that is, the land
being Jehovah's, provision is made that it may not be defiled, and for
the return of every man to his inheritance, after he had fled from it
for a time, because of killing some person unawares. We have already
seen the force of this. Only we may remark here, that not only have we
seen spiritual title to all at once before Jericho -- the rights of
Jehovah maintained in the case of the king of Ai and mount Ebal, as
the ground of present possession -- but provision for restoration to
enjoyment of the inheritance in detail when temporarily lost, which,
in figure, applies to the people in the last days.

The two tribes and a half

The establishment of the two tribes and a half on the other side
Jordan gave rise to difficulties and suspicions. Nevertheless these
tribes were faithful at heart. Their position had done them harm,
their self-seeking having somewhat marred the energy of their faith:
still, faithfulness to Jehovah was found in them.

Joshua's warning

Finally, Joshua sets the people, in the way of warning, under a
curse, or under a blessing, according to their obedience or
disobedience; and then recapitulates their history, telling them that
their fathers had been idolaters, and that the people around them were
so still.

Peaceable possession of all under promise of obedience

But the people, not having yet lost the sense of the power of God
who had blessed them, declare that they will serve Jehovah alone. They
are thus placed under responsibility, and undertake to obey, as the
condition of their possessing the land and enjoying the fruit of God's
promise. They are left there, it is true, in peaceable possession of
it all, but under the condition of obedience after having already
allowed those, who should have been utterly destroyed, to remain in
the land; and when, from the outset, they had not at all realised that
which God had given them. What a picture of the assembly ever since
the days of the apostles!

The heavenly things which are ours

There is yet one remark to be made. When Christ shall return in
glory, we shall inherit all things, Satan being bound. The assembly
ought to realise now, by the Holy Ghost, the power of this glory. But
there are things, properly called heavenly, which are ours, as being
our dwelling-place, our standing, our calling; there are others which
are subjected to us, and which are a sphere for the exercise of the
power that we possess. Thus the limits of Israel's abode were less
extensive than those of the territory to which they had a
right. Jordan was the boundary of their abode, the Euphrates that of
their possession. The heavenly things are ours; but the manifestation
of the power of Christ over creation, and the deliverance of this
creation, is granted to us. It will be delivered when Christ Himself
shall exercise the power.

Thus the "powers of the world to come [1] " were
deliverances from the yoke of the enemy. These were not things proper
to us; nevertheless they were ours.

[1] So called, I doubt not, because they were samples of that
power which will entirely subdue the enemy when Christ shall appear.